Morning Briefing

42nd anniversary since Karin Grech tragedy: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont carries a feature about Karin Grech, who was killed by parcel bomb exactly 42 years ago. The paper quotes then Archbishop Michael Gonzi who described the tragedy as the…

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Yorgen Fenech was guest of honour at Girgenti reception: The Headlines – The Times

The Times reveals that Yorgen Fenech was a guest of honour at a party thrown by Joseph Muscat in February this year. The paper says that the businessman gifted the…

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Boy dies in tragic accident in Siġġiewi: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont reports on a boxing day tragedy which claimed the life of a 7-yaer-old boy at a Siġġiewi quarry. The accident happened some time after 7:00 am when the child…

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Repubblika files police report over PM’s €20K watch: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent says that NGO Repubblika has filed a police report over claims that Joseph Muscat accepted a watch worth €20,000 from Yorgen Fenech after the Electrogas consortium won the…

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First L-Istrina edition under George Vella – The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon reports on this year’s edition of L-Istrina which it says is the first to be held under the patronage of President George Vella. The paper says that PN officials…

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Investigators discovered letters by Fenech to Theuma: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent follows the compilation of evidence against Yorgen Fenech, during which inspector Kevin Pulis said that six letters addressed to middleman Melvin Theuma were found in the businessman’s possession…

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Enemalta braces itself for further power cuts: The Headlines – The Times

The Times quotes an Enemalta statement which attributed a three-hour power cut on Monday to damage on the interconnector cables between Malta and Sicily. The corporation said that the damage…

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Keith Schembri’s office was not immediately searched by police: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon reports that the first police search at Keith Schembri’s Castille office took place about 10 days after the former chief of staff was arrested. The paper says no police…

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Caruana Galizia investigation has not been concluded yet: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont quotes inspector Keith Arnaud who told the court on Monday that the ongoing Caruana Galizia investigation has many ‘loose ends’. The paper also says that a request for bail…

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Community Chest Fund manager appeals for L-Istrina generosity: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent carries an interview with Claire Micallef Pule, manager at the Community Chest Fund Foundation, who urged people to put their differences aside and help those in need through…

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Business coming back to the capital: The Headlines – The Times

The Times speaks to business owners in Valletta who said that sales have picked up in the last fortnight following weeks of protests. Retailers, however, fear that the last-minute surge…

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Muscat praises PL election process: The Headline – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont quotes Joseph Muscat who said that, while the election for a new party leader has united the PL, it had fragmented the PN. Muscat praised the ‘open and civil…

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Fenech attended wedding in Italy with Muscat and Schembri: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that businessman Yorgen Fenech was a guest at the wedding of Pilatus Bank’s chairman in 2015, along with Keith Schembri and Joseph Muscat. The paper says that the…

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Suspicions over failure to locate missing phone: The Headlines – The Independent on Sunday

The Independent on Sunday quotes sources who question the Secret Service’s inability to find Keith Schembri’s phone. The paper says that the police are usually able to locate a missing…

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Yorgen Fenech footed treatment bills for Keith Schembri: The Headlines – Malta Today

Malta Today reveals that Yorgen Fenech paid bills totalling €24,000 for Keith Schembri to receive treatment for an eye tumour in 2016. The paper says that the businessman also accompanied…

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Caruana Galizia investigation risked being thwarted: The Headlines – The Sunday Times

The Sunday Times says that investigators caught self-confessed middleman Melvin Fenech moving key evidence of the Daphne Caruana Galizia plot out of his home just before he was arrested in…

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Rental prices experiencing a dip: The Headlines – It-Torċa

It-Torċa says that there has been ‘downward movements’ in the price of property rentals over the last weeks. The paper reports that landlords are accepting to negotiate lower rents for…

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Seven in ten PL members prefer Chris Fearne: The Headlines – Illum

Illum publishes a survey showing that PL leadership candidate Chris Fearne enjoys just over 70 percent backing among party members, while Robert Abela has almost 30 percent. Fearne musters greater…

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Clashing testimonies in the Egrant inquiry: The Headlines – Kulħadd

Kulħadd publishes details in the Egrant report which recommends criminal action against some of the ‘protagonists’ for giving inconsistent and contradictory testimonies before the magisterial inquiry. The paper also carries…

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Delia blames Muscat for political instability: The Headlines – Il-Mument

Il-Mument quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said that the country finds itself in a ‘great political crisis’ for which the government of Joseph Muscat is entirely to blame. Another…

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Both Labour Party leadership contenders express doubts on Police Commisioner – The Headlines – Malta Independent

The Malta Independent also leads with the story about Keith Schembri’s resignation from the Labour Party. In their second story the paper reports about the concerns of Labour leader hopefuls…

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PN leader holds urgent meeting with President of Malta – The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon follows the urgent meeting which PN leader Adrian Delia had with President George Vella, where he highlighted the right for people to know the truth. The article states that…

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Malta’s OPM investigated about Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination – The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon leads with 2 photo stories. One reports important developments in Caruana Galizia’s murder, focussing on investigations at the Office of the Prime Minister, claiming that the Office of the…

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Keith Schembri’s ‘lost phone’ was never examined by police – The Headlines – Times of Malta

The Times reports that during yesterday’s compilation of evidence against Fenech, Arnaud informed the court that Schembri’s phone was never examined, as he claims to have lost it. Police found a…

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The negative effects of Brexit on Malta will be well-controlled – The Headlines – Business Today

Business Today reports that the negative effects on Malta of Britains departure from the EU will a well-controlled one, even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, according to a study…

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MEPs concerned about credibility of investigations into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia – The Headlines – Malta Business Weekly

Business Weekly reads that MEPs are concerned about the credibility of the investigations into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. In a resolution, 581 votes to 26 and 83, the European…

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Keith Schembri did not inform police that Fenech was leaving for Sicily – The Headlines – Malta Independent

The Independent reports that the former Chief of Staff, Kieth Schembri, yesterday said under oath that Fenech was leaving for Sicily on the day that he was due to be…

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Keith Schembri spent 24 minutes communicating with Fenech prior to arrest – The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon reads that before Yorgen Fenech was arrested, Keith Schembri spent 24 minutes communicating with him. The day prior to Fenech leaving the island, which according to him was to repair…

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Keith Schembri apologises for not showing in court on Wednesday – The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont says that Keith Schembri denies leaking information to Yorgen Fenech with regards to the Caruana Galizia murder investigation case. Schembri, who testified in court yesterday, started off by excusing himself…

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Opposition Leader publishes Egrant report: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent leads with the publication of the Egrant report in full by Opposition Leader Adrian Delia. The Constitutional Courts on Monday ordered the Attorney General to hand over a…

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Magisterial inquiry recommends investigation of Karl Cini: The Headlines – Malta Today

Malta Today reports that the Egrant inquiry recommended that the police investigate Karl Cini from Nexia BT following prima facie documentary evidence that he might have lied under oath. A…

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Keith Schembri to testify in court today: The Headlines – The Times

The Times says that former chief of staff Keith Schembri will testify in court today in connection with the Caruana Galizia murder case. He was summoned on Wednesday but when…

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Adrian Delia says he took responsible decision to publish full report: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon quotes Opposition Leader Adrian Delia who announced that he was going to publish the Egrant report in full. He said that he took the decision responsibly and argued that…

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Labour Party chides Adrian Delia for publishing Egrant report: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont quotes the reaction by the Labour Party to the Opposition Leader’s declaration that he was going to publish the Egrant report in full. The PL said that Adrian Delia…

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Egrant inquiry decision is a victory for the people: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon says that the Constitutional Court decision ordering the Attorney General to give a copy of the Egrant report to the Opposition Leader represents a victory for Adrian Delia and…

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Muscat wants safeguards for publication of Egrant report: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont reports that the Prime Minister is in favour of the publication of the Egrant report, but with the ‘necessary safeguards’ in place. Joseph Muscat said that information in the…

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Opposition Leader says he is free to publish full Egrant report: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent says that Opposition Leader Adrian Delia consulted legal experts to see whether it is permissible at law to publish the Egrant report in full. Delia said that there…

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Fearne against calling an early general election: The Headlines – The Times

The Times carries an interview with PL leadership candidate Chris Fearne who said that he would not seek an early election if he becomes Prime Minister. He argued that the…

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Two-thirds of retailers experiencing dip in sales: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent speaks to GRTU CEO Abigail Mamo who said that the drop in business currently witnessed by the retail sector is worse than that in the 2008 global recession.…

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Parliament fails to present audited accounts: The Headlines – The Times

The Times reveals that the House of Representatives failed to present audited accounts for 2018 because it did not recruit an accountant in time to carry out the job. The…

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Muscat calls for continuity in new direction within PL: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont quotes Joseph Muscat who said that the PL leadership election is a strong signal of democracy that will keep strengthening the party. Speaking at a political event, Muscat said…

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Delia outlines mission for PN: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon quotes PN Leader Adrian Delia who said at a political event that the Labour Party is not only holding on to power but abusing of it too. Delia said…

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Fearne promises rule-of-law conference: The Headlines – Malta Today

Malta Today quotes PL Leadership candidate Chris Fearne who pledged he would call a national conference on the rule of law within the first 100 days of his tenure, if…

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22 minors from lower-income families risk eviction from Malta: The Headlines – The Times

The Sunday Times reveals that several non-EU families have been told by Identity Malta that their children have to leave the country because parents do not make enough money to…

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Police believe Keith Schembri was aware of murder plot: The Headlines – The Independent on Sunday

The Independent on Sunday says that the investigators in the Caruana Galizia case are convinced that former chief of staff Keith Schembri was aware of the details of the murder…

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Muscat backed Labour Party ‘triumvirate’: The Headlines – Illum

Illum claims that the PL ‘diabolical pact’ MP Robert Abela had publicly denounced, had Joseph Muscat’s blessing. The paper says that a secret meeting decided on a ‘triumvirate’ of Chris…

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PL leadership candidates state their intentions: The Headlines – It-Torċa

It-Torċa carries interviews with PL leadership hopefuls Robert Abela and Chris Fearne. Abela says he wants to achieve national unity to bring the changes the country needs; Fearne talks about…

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PN approves party Reform and Renewal proposals: The Headlines – Il-Mument

Il-Mument leads with the approval by the PN’s General Council of the Reform and Renewal document presented by the party on Friday. Party leader Adrian Delia said that the country…

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Former priest flees to Germany following abuse allegations: The Headlines – Kulħadd

Kulħadd publishes a story about a defrocked priest who has been accused of sexual abuse on children in a home in Gozo. The paper speaks to one of the alleged…

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President Vella responds to criticism: The Headlines – The Times

The Times quotes President George Vella who said that Malta is going through ‘very particular circumstances’ than deserve the full attention of everyone. Addressing criticism about his perceived inaction, the…

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Chris Fearne commits to Equal Pay for Equal Work: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent publishes an interview with PL leadership contender Chris Fearne who said that, as Prime Minister, he would implement Equal Pay for Equal Work measures at all government entities.…

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No Republic Day holiday for protestors: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon reports on a protest by civil society groups in Valletta during the official Republic Day celebrations on Friday. The paper says that a large crowd attended the protest despite…

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GWU general secretary supports Right To Disconnect: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont quotes General Workers Union general secretary Josef Bugeja who said that the right to disconnect helps workers’ health. Bugeja was speaking at a conference in Brussels on the effects…

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Chris Fearne prepared to reconsider hospitals deal: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent quotes Labour Party leader hopeful Chris Fearne who said he would be prepared to cancel the privatisation contract of hospitals if the National Audit Office found any serious…

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Middleman says Keith Schembri kept Yorgen Fenech in the loop: The Headlines – The Times

The Times reports on the testimony in court of Melvin Theuma on Thursday during which he said that businessman Yorgen Fenech was updated on the Caruana Galizia investigation by former…

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Maltese community in Brussels stage protest: The Headlines – In-Nazzjon

In-Nazzjon reports on a protest by the Maltese community in Brussels outside Malta House in the Belgian capital. The demonstration was held as Prime Minister Muscat was due to take…

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MCESD partners could not agree on common statement: The Headlines – L-Orizzont

L-Orizzont says that the partners in the Council for Economic and Social Development agreed on a common position about the national situation but could not issue a statement after one…

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